DEUTERONOMY LESSON 4
We will begin this lesson in Deuteronomy 3:1 "Then we turned, and
went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against
us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei."
Og was from the race of giants. He ruled over the northern half
of Gilead. This was land that God wanted His Israelites to possess.
The Israelites totally annihilate the people of Og. In the process,
over 60 cities were taken by Israel.
Deuteronomy 3:2 "And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I
will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and
thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites,
which dwelt at Heshbon."
We see that God encouraged the Israelites not to fear Og and his
troops. The Lord takes from those who are disobedient to Him, and
gives to them who obey Him. Og was a heathen. He was not a follower of
the true God. The same results will be here, as at Sihon.
Deuteronomy 3:3 "So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og
also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until
none was left to him remaining."
The Israelites killed all of the army of Og. They, in fact,
killed everyone, including women and children.
Deuteronomy 3:4 "And we took all his cities at that time, there
was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the
region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan."
These cities were well fortified, but God gave them into the
hands of the Israelites. Bashan and Argob are the same place.
Deuteronomy 3:5 "All these cities [were] fenced with high walls,
gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many."
There were more cities taken, but the 60 cities had high walls
and gates with bars. All of the cities fell to Israel.
Deuteronomy 3:6 "And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto
Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and
children, of every city."
This seems very cruel, but was done to keep God's people from
mixing with these heathen people.
Deuteronomy 3:7 "But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities,
we took for a prey to ourselves."
The cattle, and all of the material things, were not destroyed.
They became the property of Israel.
Deuteronomy 3:8 "And we took at that time out of the hand of the
two kings of the Amorites the land that [was] on this side Jordan,
from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon;"
The elevation of Hermon is approximately 10,000 feet, and is near
the Lebanon border. All this is the land on the eastern side of Jordan
which will be inherited by the tribe of Reuben, Gad, and the half
tribe of Manasseh.
Deuteronomy 3:9 "( [Which] Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and
the Amorites call it Shenir;)"
These are two other names for Mount Hermon.
Deuteronomy 3:10 "All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead,
and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in
Bashan."
This is a description of the land taken. These are just a few of
the cities mentioned.
Deuteronomy 3:11 "For only Og king of Bashan remained of the
remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead [was] a bedstead of iron; [is]
it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits [was] the
length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of
a man."
It appears, of the giants, Og is the last one. His bed gives some
idea of how big he was. It was first of all, made of iron to be strong
enough to hold him. It was 13 1/2 feet long and 6 feet wide. We do not
know for sure how tall he was. Even if he were 9 feet tall, that would
be a giant to a man 6 feet tall. Goliath, who fought David, was just
over 9 feet tall, and he was spoken of as a giant.
Deuteronomy 3:12 "And this land, [which] we possessed at that
time, from Aroer, which [is] by the river Arnon, and half mount
Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the
Gadites."
This is showing the division of the land on the east side of the
Jordan River, that Reuben and Gad receive as an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 3:13 "And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, [being]
the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the
region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of
giants."
As we said earlier, the half tribe of Manasseh received land on
the eastern side of the Jordan, just above the land of Gad. The
mountain was divided, and Manasseh's descendents received half. The
land, that had formerly been the giants, is now Manasseh's
descendents' land.
Deuteronomy 3:14 "Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country
of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi; and called them
after his own name, Bashan-havoth-jair, unto this day."
Jair was a descendent of Manasseh on his mother's side. He was a
descendent of Judah on his father's side. "Havoth" is the plural of
the word chavvoth, which means life. The name of the region bore the
name of Jair, because it belonged to him.
Deuteronomy 3:15 "And I gave Gilead unto Machir."
Numbers 32:39 "And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh
went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorite which [was]
in it." Numbers 32:40 "And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of
Manasseh; and he dwelt therein."
Deuteronomy 3:16 "And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I
gave from Gilead even unto the river Arnon half the valley, and the
border even unto the river Jabbok, [which is] the border of the
children of Ammon;"
This is giving the northern and the southern border of the land
to Reuben and Gad.
Deuteronomy 3:17 "The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast
[thereof], from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, [even] the
salt sea, under Ashdoth-pisgah eastward."
"Chinnereth" is what we call the sea of Galilee. The coast of the
Jordan river on the eastern side is the coast mentioned above. The
Dead Sea is the same as the Salt Sea.
Deuteronomy 3:18 "And I commanded you at that time, saying, The
LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass
over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all [that are]
meet for the war."
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh have inherited their land
on the eastern side of the Jordan River. This does not excuse them
from going to war to help the other 9 1/2 tribes win their land on the
western side of the Jordan River. They shall go to war with their
brother tribes. Every man 20 years old, that is fit for war, shall go
with them into battle to fight for their promised land.
Deuteronomy 3:19 "But your wives, and your little ones, and your
cattle, ( [for] I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your
cities which I have given you;"
In the book of Numbers, we found that Moses gave them time to
build places for their families to live, while they were gone to
battle. They were, also, allowed to fix a place for their cattle. The
wives and the little ones would stay with the herds, until the war for
the promised land is over.
Deuteronomy 3:20 "Until the LORD have given rest unto your
brethren, as well as unto you, and [until] they also possess the land
which the LORD your God hath given them beyond Jordan: and [then]
shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given
you."
All the soldiers of the twelve tribes are needed to subdue their
enemies. As soon as they have helped establish the 9 1/2 tribes on the
west side of Jordan, they will be free to come back and live on their
own land on the eastern side of the Jordan. Numbers 32:22 "And the
land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and
be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall
be your possession before the LORD."
Deuteronomy 3:21 "And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying,
Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these
two kings: so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou
passest."
Moses will not cross over the Jordan River. Josua will lead the
people. He has seen on the eastern side of the Jordan what God has
done to the tribes. Now, he must lead his people to victory on the
western side. I am sure he has more confidence in winning, since he
saw these victories.
Deuteronomy 3:22 "Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God
he shall fight for you."
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Fear is the
opposite of faith. He should be assured that the LORD will fight for
them.
Deuteronomy 3:23 "And I besought the LORD at that time, saying,"
Deuteronomy 3:24 "O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy
greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God [is there] in heaven or
in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy
might?"
This is the beginning of a prayer by Moses. Notice, that He
elevates God to the very highest level at the beginning of the prayer.
Moses realizes the power of Almighty God. He knows more than anyone
else that there is none other than God.
Deuteronomy 3:25 "I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good
land that [is] beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon."
Moses has led them for 40 years. It is a great disappointment
that he might not see the promised land. His prayer has become a plea
that he might go over.
Deuteronomy 3:26 "But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes,
and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee;
speak no more unto me of this matter."
The LORD's answer to Moses' request was no. Moses had angered the
LORD when he smote the Rock {Jesus}, when God told him to speak to it.
The LORD tells Moses, He does not want to hear anymore on this
subject.
Deuteronomy 3:27 "Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up
thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and
behold [it] with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan."
Moses goes to a very high point on Mount Pisgah, and sees the
promised land. It reaches actually further than the eye can see in
every direction. He did allow Moses to see the promised land, but not
to go over into the promised land.
Deuteronomy 3:28 "But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and
strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall
cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see."
The anointing of Moses to lead the people was passed on to
Joshua. Joshua would now lead the people over into the promised land.
Numbers 27:18 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son
of Nun, a man in whom [is] the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;"
Numbers 27:19 "And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all
the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight." Numbers 27:20
"And thou shalt put [some] of thine honour upon him, that all the
congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient." Joshua 3:7
"And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee
in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with
Moses, [so] I will be with thee."
Deuteronomy 3:29 "So we abode in the valley over against Beth-
peor."
This is in the plains of Moab. This was opposite of Jericho. At
the end of this, we see they are poised, ready to take the promised
land.
Deuteronomy 4 Questions
1. Who was the king of Bashan?
2. He ruled over the northern half of _________.
3. How many of his cities were taken by Israel?
4. Why did God say not to fear him?
5. Who did they kill, besides Og?
6. What is the same as Bashan?
7. How were the cities fortified?
8. What was kept for spoil?
9. The land they took was from the River ________ unto mount _______.
10. How tall is mount Hermon?
11. What were the names of some of the cities taken?
12. Who was the last of the giants?
13. How big was his bed?
14. Who was a giant, who was 9 feet tall?
15. What land do the Reubenites and Gadites receive?
16. What goes to the half tribe of Manasseh?
17. Who was Jair a descendent of?
18. "Havoth" is plural for chavvoth, which means _________.
19. Who was Gilead given to?
20. What is another name for "Chinnereth"?
21. The Dead Sea is the same as the ______ Sea.
22. Where did the tribe of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh
inherit land?
23. Where do the other tribes inherit land?
24. Where will Reuben's wife and children stay, while he goes to war?
25. When do the men of the tribe of Reuben go home?
26. Moses will not cross the _________ ______.
27. Without __________, it is impossible to please God.
28. Where does Moses' prayer begin?
29. What does Moses ask God for?
30. Does God grant his prayer request?
31. Why was the LORD wroth with Moses?
32. Where did the LORD send Moses?
33. Who will go in Moses' place?